Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-02-07
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
A General Protest Against Its Location I'm
the New Market House.

A General Protest Against Its Location I'm
the New Market House.
To the Editor of the Republic:
Since the publication of the general
plans of the proposed market house, in
which the location of the public library in
that structure has been advocated and ap-
parently provided for, the public librarian
and the library trustees have received nu-
merous protests against placing the library
in the market house building. OF course
the new market house will be a creditable
structure 10 the city, and it is understo
that it will contain council chamber. mayors
office. police court, the various city offices.
and possibly the patrol house. The slightest
reflection will satisfy any sane person of
the incongruity between these institutions
and the public library. The classes of per
sons frequenting the city buildings are not
such as the ladies and youth of Springfield
shoald constantly be brought in contact
with when going to an from the library.
Anyone familiar with the crowd which now
congregates around the doorway. stairway
and hail of the mayor Office. will acknowi-
edge this. Ii is understood that the city of
DAYTON, O.. INDUCED in the experiment
proposed. and found the location of its
public library in the city hall SO disagreed
bic that a change was found necessary.
Further. the location of the public library
in the new city building would probably be
considered as permanent for some time to
come and would very likely fruStrate the
purpose or desire of certain philosophical
citizens TO furnish the library with its much
needed building and facilities. Mr.. X. c.
Woodward. our city lIbTariOn. has just re-
ceived an invitation 10 be present at the
dedication of the new public library build
ing in Buffalo, y. Y. which occurs today.
The photographic card of invitation sent u
the librarian pOrtrayS a handsome building.
just such as Springfield hopes soon to Sc
cure through the munIicence of certain cit
iZenS. Various institutions of the city of
Buffalo have place i'll this new library
building, but they are all interests allied to
each other and proper to be combined in one
edItice. They comprise the public library
proper, an art academy. historical society
rooms. and a mechanics institute, with
several other interests ot like character.
Now it will be preceived that a separate
public library building. uuconnected with
our criminal court. and other city offices, is
what We need in Springfield. Ii would not
only give the library the conyeni":l,- lid
room now absolutely necessary for further
extension but it would also give the city a
building i'll which could be placed an art
gallery. to which il is understood several
prominent citizens are already willing to
contribute attractions, but il would also re
suit no doubt in the establishment of other
important local institutions. such a. a me
chanicS' institute, a historical society and
similar organizations so frequently advocat-
ed by the REPU BIIC.
Ii is sincerely hoped by those having the
best interests of ont public library and the
moral and intellectual elevation of our peo-
pie at heart, that nothing hasty or illadviSe'l
will be done in the matter of its location i'll
market house building. The people of
Springfield are not Yet ready to rcllnqulSh
their much-cherished hopes for creditahle
library building and mechanics institute,
and it is believed these hopes are not
| doomed 10 disappointment, as the proposal
to place the library i'll the market house
| would indicate.